Molding machine



April 21, 1925. 1,535,020

- P. P. FRAZER roLDING MACHINE Filed'March 24. 1921 '7.Sheets-Sheet l P.P. FRAZER MOLDING MACHINE Filed March 24 1921 April 2l, 1925.

7 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 21, 1925.

1,535,020 f P. RFRAZER MOLDING MACHINE Filed March 24, 1921 '7Sheets-Sheet 3 [7256/222177 filZ//Zjwjen April 21, 192s.

P. P. FRAZER MOLDING MACHINE` 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 J i 1 f ,Apr-il 21, 1925.

P. P. FRAZER MOLDING MACHINE med March 24, 1921 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 P. P.FRAZER HOLDING MACHINE April 21, 1925. 1,535,020

Filed March 24. 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 5g I 35 April 2l, 1925. 1,535,020

P. P. FRAZER HOLDING MACHINE Filed March 24, 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 f/zwel@ Zvw:

Patented Lhier. 2l, i925.

llE ST'il PINKNEY P. FRAZEB., OF ST. LOUIS, LISSOB, ASSGNGR, lf'ESllllTO EDWARD SCHAEFER AND DETLEF E. SCHAE'EP.. TRU

MOLDING MACHNE CO., OF ST. LOUIS, MISSUB, A G0ll1IL`v0NLAl7 TRUST.

IVIOLDING vAGHNE.

Application lccl March 24, 1921.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known thatl l, PrNKNnY P. FRAznn, citizen of' the United States,residing in the city of St. Louis, and State of Missouri, have inventedcertain new and useful lmprovements in Molding),- Machines, ot which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates generally to molding machines, and, has particularreference to an improved machine for packing or ramminp; sand in thecope and drag of a molders flask, alternately.

The object of my present invention is to provide a moldingl machine,which is a distinct and practical improvement. to over* come certainpractical objections to, and defects in, the present types of melding`machines, and which shall be adapted te ram the sand in the cope anddrag of a moulders flask more rapidly, more perfectly, more eco- Vno-mically and with much less manual labor than has been possiblehitherto.

AV further, special and particular object of the invention is theprovision of a cope and drag supporting table capable of reciprocatingmovement upon a` track below a plunger so that the sand can becompressed in the cope half of a flask while the draghalf of the iask isbeing filled with sand, and vice-versa.

A further obiect of the invention is to provide a molding machine whichwill be simple in construction, durable, strong, easily manipulated andhighly efficient for the purpose intended.

lilith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of partshereinafter more fully described and finally pointed out in the claimshereto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming,- a part of thisspecification wherein like characters of reference denote similar partsthroughout the several views:

Fig. l, is a side elevation of a molding machine constructed inaccordancewith my invention.

Fig. 2, is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3, is a front elevation of the machine with parts of the trackbroken away, and showing the flask carriage positioned midway the endsof the supporting track.

Serial No. 455,000.

Fig. ll, is a front elevation of the machine, showing the cope end ofthe carriage directly under the plunger.

5, is a view of the molding; machine partly in front elevation andpartly in sectional elevation and showing' the sand being rammed in thedrag hall et a flask by the plunger.

Fig. 6, is an elevation of the carriage mounted upon the supportingtrack.

Fig. 7. is a detail, in side elevation, of one end of the carriage.

Fig. 8, is a detail, in sectional elevation, of one of the side membersof the carriage.

Fig. 9, is a detail. in plan view showing the stop of the carriage whichengages the machine column for limiting the movement of the carriage ineither direction.

l0, is a rear elevation of the carriage showing` the carriage stops andthe trip shaft. A

Fig. il, is a detail showing` the clutch trip mechanism.

In carryinga out the aim of my present in` vention, l employ, shown inFin: l. a suitable supporting` column l, preferably mounted on asuitable base 2.

A suitable plunger 3 is sldablv mounted upon the :trout face of thecolumn l and is provided at its lower end with a reiner/'able pressureplate 4;. The pluneer is of the vertical reciprocatingz type d may beactuated by any well known power. For illustrative purpose only. l haveshown the plunger as actuatedl by an eccentric mechanism consistineol aneccentric wheel 5 fixed to a suitably driven shaft 5. The shaft 5 isprovided with a suitable fly wheel 6 and a suitable clutch .7. Theleccentric wheel 6 is connected with the plunger 8 by means of asuitable connecting;r rod 8. The fly wheel 6 is shown as beine' drivenby means of a belt, although it may be driven in any other well knownmanner.

A track. as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6, and consisting' of a pair ofsuitable rails 9, is supported by means of suitable supporting bracemembers l0 and ll, which brace members are preferably fixed to thecolumn l and base 2, respectively.

12 indicates a suitable carriage frame, or table, which is provided withthe bearings 13, in which are journaled the axles lll near each end ofthe carriage frame. The bearings 1.3 are movable, or adjustablevertically by means of suitable Wedge blocks l5. rlhese Wedge blockslrest upon the bearings 13' and are mounted in the tapered Ways 16 of thecarriage frame l2. Each Wedge block l5 is preferably held in itsadjusted position by means of a suitable set screw i7, as shown in Fig.'7. cli axle i4 is provided With a pair of supporting Wheels i8, asshown in Fig. 6. The Wheels i8 each have their peripheral face suitablygrooved, as at i9, to receive and ride upon the rails 9 of the carriagesupporting` track, as clearly shown in (i.

As shown in igs. tl and T, 2O indicates a plurality of pattern platesupporting crossmembers which are preferably vertically adjustable. Theci ssn'ien'ibe.rs 20 are supported at each end by the side members ofthe carriage frame Each end of each crossmember 20 is preferablyprovided ".vith a. lower inclined face 2l, as shown in Fig'. 7, toengage and rest. upon a Wedge member 22. A. suitable .fastening device,such as a screiv member 23, passes through each end of each cross-member20, through the Wedge blocks 22 and into the carriage frame l2 tosecurely lock the cross-pieces 20 in their properly adjusted positions.Each Wedge member 22 is provided with a slotted opening 24 for thepassage of al screiv to permit horizontal movement of each Wedge member22 for either raising or lowering the cross pieces 22, as is manifest.

ylhe carriage l2 is divided, forillustrative purpose, into tivodivisions and will be known as the cope end, and the drag end, and, forthe purpose of' clearness, the left half of the carriage l2, designatedA, will bel hereinafter known as the cope end of the carriage and theright half of the carriage designz'ited B, Will be he? inafter known asthe drag end. lt will here be observed that the cope end A of thecarriage l2 is pro vided With a. pair of pattern supporting cross-pieces2O and that the drag end is also provided `with a pair of patternsupporting cross-pieces 20, which cross-pieces 20 T.vill be knownhereinafter as pattern supports.

its shown in Figs. 5 and 6, 25 indicates a pattern fixed to a patternsupporting plate 28, which is removably fixed to the pattern supports atthe cope end A of the carriage l2. 27 represents a pattern fixed to asupporting plate 28, which is removably fixed to the pattern supports 22at the drag end B of the carriage 12.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, 29 represents the cope half of a mould-ei"sflask and it is removably mounted upon and supported by the cope patternplate 2G, as clearly shown in Fig. The cope half 29 of the mouldersfiask is held in position upon the pattern plate 26 While being filledwith sand and rammed or squeezed, by means of the pins 30. These pins 30are fixed to the pattern plate 26 and are receivable in the openings 3lof the ears 32. These ears 32 are fixed to each end of the flask half,as shown.

33 represents the drag half of a inoulders flask and it is removably7mounted upon and supported by the drag pattern plate 28, as clear-lyshown in Fig. 6.

rlhe drag half 33 of the moulders flask is held in position upon thepattern plate 28 While being filled With sand and rammed or squeezed bymeans of pins 34. These pins 34 are fined to the end Walls of the flaskhalf and enter openings 35 at each end of the pattern plate 28.

lt Will here be understood and readily seen, that the table or carriage.l2 being Wheel supported, is capable of reciprocating movement forbringing the cope under the plunger 3 and then the drag and viceversa,so that the sand can be rammed, pressed. or squeezed therein, inalternate relation.

The means herein provided for moving the pattern supporting carriagefrom one position to the other upon the supporting track, and viceversa,consists of a lever 86 fixed at one end to a rocker trip shaft 37, whichshaft is journaled at its ends in suitable bearings 38, as shown in Fig.9. The lever 3G is held in its upper or normal position by means of asuitable spring element 89, as shown in Fig. 5. The spring 39 issuitably fixed at one end to the lever 3G and at its oaposite end tothecarriage l2, as shoivn in 5.

As illustrated in Fig. l, the means illus-r trated for actuating theclutch 7 and imparting vertical reciprocating movement to the plunger 3,consists of stop rod 40 guided by the bearings 4l and 42. The lower endof the stop rod 40 is pivotally connected, as at 43, to the free end ofarm 44 of a bell crank 45, which bell crank 45 is fulcrumed, as 21346.Yllhe arm 47 of the bell crank 44 is provided with a bifurcated end 48to receive the lateral extending pin 49 of a `slidable member 50 mountedin suitable bearings 5l. The bell crank 44, the slidable mem.- ber andthe stop rod 40 are held in their normal positions by means of thecoiled spring 52, as clearly shovn in Fig. 1.

rlhe rocker shaft 37 is provided with two spaced depend'ng kicker arms53 and 54, as shown in Fig. 'i'. These arms register with the forwardend of the slidable member 50 when the carriage is moved to its eX tremeposit-ion at either end of the track, as determined by stopshereiiuifter described. iis illustrated in Fig. 5, the carriage has beenmoved to a posit-:on so 'that the drag end B is positioned directlyunder the plunger 3. When the carriage is in this position, the kickerarm 54 will register With the forward end of the bell crank actuatingmember 50 as shown in Ffg. 9. N ow, when the lever 36 is depressed tothe position shown in Fig. 1, it will be understood that the kicker arm54 will engage the end of member 50 and that further depression of thelever 36 will move the member 5() rearwardly, and thereby move thebell-crank 45, which in turn would pull the stop rod 40 downwardly,releasing the upper end of the rod from engagement with the locking dog55 fixed to the shaft 5. `When the rod 40 has been moved from engagementwith the dog 55, the coiled spring 56 will move the dog 55 which isfixed to the pin 57 thereby causing the clutch to engage the fly wheeland cause the shaft 5 to make one revolution and then stop owing to thefact that the spring 52 will immediately raise the stop rod 40 after thelever 36 has been depressed and released, thus causing the locking dog55 to strike the stop rod 40 and disengage the clutch to prevent furtherrotation of the shaft 5.

To guard against accidental depression or downward movement of thecarriage actuating lever 36 by the operator and thereby causing theclutch to be engaged and impart movement to the plunger 3 before eitherthe cope or drag is directly below the plunger plate 3, I provide aguide rail 58 which is suitably fixed to the front rail 9 of thecarriage supporting track as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 6. Whilemoving the carriage from one position to another, it will be readilyseen from Figs. 3 and 4, that the hand lever 36 rides upon the guiderail 58 until the carriage 12 has reached its predetermined position ineither direction. After the carriage 12 has reached its determinedposition at either end of the track, it is evident that the hand. lever36 may be depressed for releasing the clutch 7 and cause the plunger 3to make one downward and upward movement compressing the sand in eitherthe cope or drag in its travel downward. The hand lever 36 is guidedfrom any possible lateral move-ment at its handle end by means of theguide member 59 fixed to and depending from the carriage 12, as clearlyshown in Fig. 4.

A suitable stop 60 is fixed to the carriage 12 near one end thereof anda suitable stop 61 is fixed to the carriage near the opposite endthereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 9. The purpose of the stops are tolimit the movement of the carriage 12, in either direction, so as tocause the cope and drag halves of the moulders flask to stop directlyunder the plunger 3 for compressing the sand therein. In Fig. 9, I haveshown the stop 60 as in engagement with one side of the column 1. Owingto the employment of the stops 60 and 61, and the lever guide rail 38,it will be observed, that it is impossible to disengage the clutch 7 andcause the plunger 3 to complete a cycle until either stop 60 or stop 61engages the column 1, thus it is necessary to pos`.tively bring eitherthe drag or cope directly beneath the plunger 3 prior to movement of theplunger, which obviates all danger of the plunger being actuated beforeeither the drag orv cope has been brought to its proper position belowthe plunger 3 and thus further avoiding any possible damage to eitherthe drag or cope through accidental movement of the plunger 3, as theplunger can not be actuated until either the drag or cope is directlybeneath and in alignment with the plunger 3.

62 and 63 indicate suitablevibrators fixed to the bottom face of thepattern plates 26 and 28, respectively. These vibrators are illustratedas being capable of being actuated electrically by the operators bypressing on the hinged plates 64 and 65. These vibrators have a tendencyto loosen the sand 'from contact with the patterns and patternsupporting plates as is manifest- The machine is especially designed tobe actuated by two operators and the operation of the molding machine isas follows:

Assuming that the molding operations are just beginning, the carriage ismoved to bring the drag end B thereof under the plunger and then numberone operator places the cope half of the molders flask upon the patternplate 26, places a riser 64 upon the flask half and fills theI fiaskhalf with sand, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Now, number one operator movesthe carriage to bring the cope under the plunger and then presses lever36 causing the plunge-r to be actuated for compressing the sand. Duringthe compressing operation of the sand, number two operator places thedrag half of the fiask upon the pattern plate 28, places a riser 64 uponthe iiask half and fills the same with sand. After this operation,number two man moves the carriage to bring the drag under the plunger,actuates lever 36 and then follows up the cope removing same from thecarriage, then number one operator places a new cope flask half `uponpattern plate. 26 fills same with sand, moves cope to position underplunger, actuates plunger, then follows up the drag and removes same.These operations are kept up in this manner by two operators, thusproviding a molding machine, which, due to the reciprocating carriagemechanism, keeps the operators working continuously, first at one end ofthe machine and then at the other.

It is evident, from the foregoing description, that I provide a moldingmachine, which will permit copes and drags to be moved beneath a plungerfor compressing the sand, .in alternate relation, with a mini` mumnumber of operators, thereby increasing production as there is no timelost` by the operators due to the reciprocating and ramming features ofthe carriage and plunger supporting the cope and drag.

It is,rot course, understood that the operations of mounting copes anddrags may be commenced `at either end ot' the machine, and, further thatit desired, one machine may be used only for copes and another fordrags.

The many advantages ot' the herein de` scribed invention Will readilysuggest themselves to those skilled in the appertains. Y v

I do not wish to be understood as having limited myself to the specificdetails of construction shoWn and described, but desire to have itunderstood that the invention I have shown in the drawings, is merelyillustrative, as it is manifest that various minor changes maybe made inthe exact construction and particular arrangement of several partsWithout departing Jromthe spirit of my invention, hence I reserve theright to make any such changes, or modifications as may fairly fallWithin the scope of the appended claims When fairly construed.

That I claim is:

l. In combination with a molding machine having' a track base and aplunger disposed above the base, of a Wheel supported carriage adaptedto support both a cope and a drag at the same time, said carriage beingmounted for limited reciprocal movement upon said track base and thedistance of said movement being the distance between the centers ofthecope and the drag.

2. In combination With a molding machine having a track base and aplunger dis.

posed above the base, of a Wheel supported carriage mounted :tor limitedreciprocal movement upon said track base, a cope sup ported upon oneVside of thecenter of said carriage and a drag supported upon theopposite side of' the center of said carriage so that compression of thesand in the cope by means of the plunger can be accomplishedsimultaneously with the removal of a tamped drag, the replacing ofanother drag in lieu thereof and the filling of the same With sand andvice-versa.

3. A molding machine having a movable carriage to support a cope at oneendl and a drag at theother end of the carriage, and power drivenmechanism for compressing sand in the cope Vsimultaneously with thefilling of the dragk with sand and vice- "versap j c. j

4. In a mold-ing machine, an upright standard having an overhanginghead,"an elevated bench track fixed to said standard,

acarriage reciprocably mounted uponv said track, a copev removablymounted upon one art to which itV end of said carriage, a dragrremovably mounted upon the opposite end of said carriage, means forregulating the elevation ot the cope and drag With relation to the trackand other means upon said standard for compressing sand Within the copeWhile the drag is being filled with sand and vice-versa.

5. In a molding machine, an upright standard, a track, means forsupporting said track in an elevated position, a vertically disposedreciprocating plunger mounted above said track, a Wheel supportedcarriage mounted upon said track, vertically adjustable means at one endofsaid` carriage for supporting a metal pattern, ver` tically adjustablemeans at the other end of said carriage for supporting a metal pattern,means for supporting a cope and drag at either end ofi' said carriage sothat While sand is being compressed in the cope the drag can be filledWith sand to be brought under the plunger to be compressed While thecope is being removed and an empty cope mounted upon its place upon thecarriage and vice-versa.

6. The combination with elevated rails constituting a track and a press,of a wheel supported'carriage mounted to ride upon said track,vertically adjustable cross-pieces` removably fixed to said carriage, apair of pattern platesfixed to said' cross-pieces, a cope supported byone of said pattern plates, a drag supported by the other pattern plateand means limiting the move ment of said carriage to bring the copeAdirectly under the press during movementl in one direction and rmeansYfor limiting the movement ofsaid carriage to bring the drag directlyunder the press during movement of the carriage in the oppositedirection.l

7. A cope and drag supporting means for moldinomachines comprising aWheel supported carriage frame, cross-pieces span-1 ning the frame forsupporting a. pattern plate at either end of said frame and means foradjusting said frame to the desired elcvation With relation tothe axisof the Wheels of the carriage.

S. In a molding machine, a. base, a standard fixed to said base. atrack, means for supporting said track in an elevated position abovesaid base, a plunger supported by said standard, a Wheel supportedcarriage mounted on said track for limited reciprocating movementthereon and verti-` cally adjustable pattern supporting crosspieeescarried at either end of said carriage so thata cope and a drag may besupported by the carriage at one and the'same time.

9. In a molding machine, an elevated track, a plunger positioned abovesaid track, a Wheel supported carriage, means at one end of saidcarriage for supporting a. cope vvhile `sand therein is being compressedby said plunger, means at the opposite end 'of the carriage forsupporting a drag to be moved under the plunger simultaneously with themovement of the carriage in moving the cope trom under the plunger andmeans for limiting the movement of said carriage upon said track ineither direction to bring either the cope or drag into cooperativerelation therewith while sand is being compressed either within the copeor drag.

10. In a molding machine, a standard, a track, a carriage movablymounted upon the track adapted to support a cope and a drag side byside, a clutch controlled plunger, a manually controlled lever formoving the carriage to alternately bring the cope and the drag directlybeneath the plunger for compressing sand therein, means for impartingand controlling the reciprocating movement of said plunger, and sto-psiXe-d to one side of said carriage at opposite ends thereof adapted toengage the standard Jfor limiting the movement of the carriage in eitherdirection below the plunger.

11. The combination with a standard having a vertically reciprocablepress plate, of an elevated track, a carriage mounted for movement onsaid track, means for supporting a cope at one end of said carriage,means for vsupporting a drag at the opposite end of said carriage andsaid cope and drag supporting means being vertically adjustable withrelation to the carriage.

12. The combination with a standard having a vertically reciprocablepress plate, of an elevated track, a carriage mo-unte tor movement onsaid track, means for supporting a cope at one end of said carriage,means for supporting a drag at the opposite end of said carriage saidcope and drag supporting means being vertically adjustable with relationto the carriage and stops carried by the carriage for engagement withthe standard to limit the movement of the carriage in either directiontostop the cope and drag in cooperative relation with the plunger.

13. In combination with a molding machine comprising a standard and apower operated plunger, of a track supported by said standard in anelevated position, a single wheel supported carriage supporting both acope and a drag mounted side by side for limited reciprocal movementupon said track, and means carried by the carriage tor supportingpatterns, the cope and the drag.

111. In combination with a molding machine comprising a standard and apower operated plunger, of a track supported by said standard in anelevated position, a wheel supported carriage mounted to ride upon saidtrack, U-shaped cross-pieces spanning said frame for supporting patternsand the cope and drag, said cross-pieces being vertically adjustablewith relation to the carriage frame.

15. In a molding machine, a base, a standard, a shaft journaled in upperend of said standard, a drive pulley mounted upon said shaft, a clutchmechanism co-acting with said puller a plunger, a connection betweensaid plunger and said shaft, a track supported above said base and inadvance o said standard, a wheel supported carriage mounted upon saidtrack, means for supporting a pattern and a cope at one end of saidcarriage, means for supporting a pattern and a drag at the opposite endof said carriage, stops fixed engagement with the standard for limitingthe movement of said carriage to stop cope or drag directly beneath theplunger and manually actuated mechanism for tripping the clutch wheneither the cope or drag are in cooperative relation with the plunger andnot otherwise.

16. The herein described method of making foundry sand molds whichconsists in compressing sand alternately in a copeand in a drag bothmounted upon opposite ends of the same carriage which is reciprocablymounted upon a track.

17. The herein described method of making Jfoundry sand molds whichconsist-s in removably mounting a cope upon one end oitI an elevatedreciprocable wheel supported carriage, iilling either the cope or dragwit sand, moving the carriage to a position to bring either the cope orthe drag beneath a plunger for compressing the sand therein by a singlestroke of a plunger, removably mounting a drag upon the opposite end ofthe same carriage simultaneously with the compression of sand within thecope, lling the drag with sand, manually moving the carriage in anopposite direction to bring the drag beneath the plunger or compressingthe sand within the drag, removing the cope from the carriagesimultaneously with the compression of the sand within the drag andreplacing another cope thereon tilling it with sand and moving it to apoint below the plunger simultaneously with the movement of the dragfrom under the plunger and vice-versa.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to thespecification.

PINKNEY P. FRAZER.

to said carriage for

